SPORTS BRIEFS

Agencies

Thu, Aug 15, 2013 - Page 18

BASKETBALL

Birdman lands in Taipei

Miami Heat forward Chris Andersen was scheduled to arrive in Taiwan on Tuesday for a visit during which he is to share his NBA experience with local players. Today, Andersen is to tell high-school and professional basketball players how his team won the 2012-2013 NBA Championship and encourage young players to pursue their dreams, according to local sports firm Bros Sports Inc. The “Birdman” is also to visit the Pavilion of Dreams at the Taipei Expo Park with children supported by a charity tomorrow.

RUGBY UNION

Pumas skipper out of opener

Argentina captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe is to miss the opening match of the Rugby Championship Test against South Africa in Soweto on Saturday with a calf injury. Leonardo Senatore replaces Lobbe and is one of eight changes from the team beaten 27-6 by the Springboks in Cape Town at the same stage last year. The Rugby Championship was expanded last season to include Argentina, who proved competitive apart from a 54-15 home hiding from world champions New Zealand. Los Pumas prepared for Soweto by defeating the visiting New South Wales Barbarians 29-27 and 58-12 in a two-match series.

CYCLING

Demare seals Eneco stage

French rider Arnaud Demare won the second stage of the Eneco Tour on Tuesday in a sprint finish in Vorst, on the outskirts of the Belgian capital, Brussels. Demare, a former world junior champion riding for the FDJ team, edged ahead of world road race champion Philippe Gilbert of Belgium and the US’ Tyler Farrar at the end of the 176.9km stage from Ardooie. Demare took the overall leader’s jersey from Australia’s Mark Renshaw, who suffered a puncture in the final kilometer and is now 3 seconds behind Demare in the general standings, with Gilbert a further second adrift. Last year’s Tour de France winnner Bradley Wiggins, the star turn in this year’s Eneco Tour, finished well down the field, 1 minute, 22 seconds behind the leaders, and already finds himself lying 147th out of 164 riders, more than five minutes adrift of Demare.

SOCCER

Jacko joins Lennon, Gandhi

How about this for a soccer trio? A team with Michael Jackson playing alongside John Lennon and Mahatma Gandhi. Carlos Adriano, director of soccer for Brazilian Serie B side Atletico Goianiense, told reporters the club has signed a forward known as Michael Jackson — real name Carlos Adriano de Sousa Cruz. Like many Brazilian players, he goes by a nickname rather than his family name, or given name. Jackson could play with team members including John Lennon — full name John Lennon Silva Santos — and Mahatma Gandhi, whose full name is Mahatma Gandhi Heber Pio. Jackson has played with Brazilian clubs Palmeiras and Fluminense, and had a stint playing in China

VOLLEYBALL

Natalia hit with doping ban

Brazil’s sports tribunal has suspended national team player Natalia for 60 days for failing a doping test. Natalia allegedly tested positive for high levels of the banned substance prednisolone during a national league match in March. The substance is usually found in asthma medicine. The Brazil outside hitter had been initially cleared last month but the tribunal found her guilty on appeal on Tuesday, saying there were irregularities in the first trial. “I know that I’ve done nothing wrong,” Natalia said.